With swirling guitar riffs and booming drums, The Planes tackle the heavy feeling of uncertainty on their latest track, “First Breath After Mask.” Though the title clearly references that beginning phase of post-pandemic life, trying to navigate the confusion that came with returning to any sort of “normalcy,” this track from the NYC-based band is all about anxiety in general. On the track, frontman Stephen Otto Perry tries to find answers to the uncertainty he’s faced, only to come up short and find that there’s no real explanation. An easily relatable track, the ultimate message is that Perry isn’t the only one in his situation—everyone possesses some level of nervousness and is simply trying to get through each day.
The track forays into a heavier, grunge-oriented direction for the band, especially juxtaposed with the hopeful, driving indie rock that The Planes’ last single, “Thrift Store,” had to offer. Overall, across both singles, the band dives into a plethora of influences to create unique snapshots of navigating one's inner self in the midst of a changing world.
Listen to The Planes’ hard-hitting single “First Breath After Mask” ahead of the band’s new album, Dark Matter Recycling Co., out on September 15!
